Investigators scour Epstein’s remote New Mexico estate

Search teams from New Mexico authorities have begun examining a sprawling ranch once owned by disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, reopening scrutiny of allegations that the secluded property served as a site for sexual abuse and trafficking of underage girls.

The investigation focuses on Zorro Ranch, a vast estate about 48 kilometres south of Santa Fe. State officials initiated the search after Attorney General Raul Torrez revived a dormant inquiry into activities linked to Epstein at the property, citing newly disclosed federal documents and renewed testimony from alleged victims. The probe marks the first comprehensive examination of the ranch by state investigators, years after earlier enquiries ended without a full search.

Officials confirmed that personnel from the state Department of Justice, supported by law-enforcement officers and forensic specialists, are surveying the property and its surrounding land. Authorities have asked the public to avoid the remote area while investigators conduct evidence-gathering operations across the high-desert estate.

Zorro Ranch, covering thousands of acres near the town of Stanley, was purchased by Epstein in 1993 from former governor Bruce King. Over time the financier transformed the property into a secluded compound with a large hacienda-style mansion, guest houses, a private airstrip and several outbuildings. The ranch became one of several residences used by Epstein as he cultivated relationships with wealthy and influential figures.

The property attracted renewed attention after the release of millions of federal investigative documents under legislation requiring greater disclosure of records tied to Epstein’s trafficking network. Material from those files and other evidence prompted state authorities to reconsider earlier claims that the ranch may have been used to exploit young women.

Epstein died in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges that he trafficked minors for sexual abuse. His death ended criminal proceedings against him but left unresolved questions about the locations where alleged crimes occurred and the individuals who may have been involved in or aware of his activities. Although federal investigators pursued cases tied to Epstein’s homes in New York and Florida, the New Mexico ranch had not previously been subject to a detailed forensic search.

Attorney General Torrez announced the reopening of the state inquiry last month, saying investigators had received additional information suggesting that criminal acts might have taken place at the ranch. The decision followed years of criticism from victims’ advocates and local officials who argued that the property had escaped proper scrutiny despite allegations from women who said they were abused there.

The state had conducted preliminary interviews in 2019 with people who claimed to have been victims or witnesses. That inquiry halted after federal prosecutors requested that state authorities step back while a broader trafficking case against Epstein moved forward. With those proceedings now concluded, New Mexico officials say they are examining the property independently.

Lawmakers in the state have also authorised a bipartisan “truth commission” tasked with gathering testimony from survivors, employees and local residents connected to the ranch. The panel is expected to review records, identify potential witnesses and assess whether systemic failures allowed Epstein to operate in the region for decades.

Public interest in the investigation has intensified as survivors and advocacy groups call for greater transparency surrounding the network of associates who visited Epstein’s properties. Demonstrations near the ranch have drawn supporters demanding the release of additional documents identifying people linked to the financier’s social circle.

Some of the renewed scrutiny stems from a series of allegations that circulated in earlier investigative material, including claims that victims may have been transported to the property for exploitation. Authorities have not confirmed those accusations and emphasise that the search aims to determine whether any physical evidence can corroborate testimony collected during earlier investigations.

Legal analysts note that the passage of time presents significant challenges. Ownership of the ranch changed after Epstein’s estate sold the property in 2023 to the family of businessman Don Huffines. State officials say the current owners have agreed to cooperate with investigators, allowing access to buildings and surrounding land as forensic teams conduct their work.

Experts in criminal investigations warn that potential evidence may have deteriorated or been disturbed during the years since Epstein’s death. Nonetheless, investigators believe the site’s layout and structures could still provide valuable insights into how the estate functioned and whether specific locations correspond to accounts given by alleged victims.

The renewed probe has revived long-standing questions about why the ranch remained largely outside the scope of earlier federal investigations. Critics argue that focusing primarily on Epstein’s residences in other states left gaps in understanding the full scale of his operations.

Political leaders in New Mexico have framed the inquiry as an attempt to address those unanswered questions. Supporters of the truth commission say its work will examine not only alleged crimes but also the institutional failures that allowed Epstein to maintain a presence in the state without significant oversight.